CLAAS SETS NEW WORLD RECORD FOR WHEAT HARVESTING

Tue, 2011-11-15 (All day)

Omaha, Neb - CLAAS announced at the AGRITECHNICA farm show in Hanover, Germany, that it has achieved a new world record for the most wheat harvested in 8 hours by harvesting more than 24,832 bushels (675.84 t) of wheat in an 8-hour time frame. Helmut Claas and his daughter Cathrina Claas-Mühlhäuser were presented with the document by Jack Brockbank, official representative of Guinness World Records, at the CLAAS trade fair stand in front of the world record machine. Also present was the 13-man world record team.

The new world record was set by running a LEXION 770 TERRA TRAC combine harvester equipped with a VARIO 1200 40 ft. (12- meter) head in fields near Swaby, Lincolnshire, UK. The record was set during the first 8 hours of a 20-hour harvesting trial and was made possible by the outstanding intelligent technology, power and capacity engineered into the LEXION combine harvester.

LEXION 700 series combines are equipped with the APS HYBRID SYSTEM that combines the Accelerated Pre-Separation (APS) threshing system with the ROTO PLUS separation system to provide the highest quality and largest capacity threshing and separation system in the industry. The 20-hour harvest trial began early in the morning despite moisture content at 18%. The wide range of settings found on LEXION harvesters, including independent threshing and separation speed adjustments allow it to adapt to difficult harvesting conditions. Throughput remained consistently high despite moisture content ranging from 14.5 – 18% throughout the day.

The 8-hour world record harvest saw a nearly 11% improvement over the fuel consumption level set by the previous record holder in their 2008 world record in the same category. This low fuel consumption was achieved by the thoughtfully engineered CLAAS POWER SYSTEMS power train. Other features that enabled the harvester to sustain such an enormous throughput performance over a long time period included GPS PILOT for automatic steering, CRUISE PILOT for throughput control and CEMOS, a setting assistance system.

“The LEXION 770 not only delivered a 22.5% higher throughput when compared to the previous record holder, it also achieved this with lower engine output and lower fuel consumption," stated Bob Armstrong, North American Product Marketing Manager.

“The technology combination of the ultra-efficient power train components and the highly adaptable APS HYBRID SYSTEM means growers can lower operational expenses even when they are forced to work under tight schedules in less than optimum conditions.”

The 20-hour trial was conducted on four fields with the assistance of two harvester drivers. The total area harvested was over 319 acres (129.36 ha) and total yield was over 50,000 bushels (1361.99 t). Total grain losses ranged from .31 to .5%. All weights were verified by public weighbridge and observed by a Guinness World Records representative.

CLAAS of America Inc. offers a wide variety of technologically innovative hay tool, baler, self-propelled forage harvester and combine harvester products to provide growers optimum performance in the field. These products are designed by a dedicated engineering staff located at numerous worldwide factories focused on the production and design of harvesting equipment. The design, performance and reliability of this equipment have made CLAAS an international market leader. For more information, visit www.claasofamerica.com.